ADHD and Autism in the Irish Workplace: Lived Experiences, Gernational Differences, and Pathways to Inclusion

Abstract

This study explores how neurodivergent professionals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and/or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Ireland navigate workplace identity, organisational culture, career development, and well-being , with attention to generational differences. While international research has examined disclosure, stigma, and accommodations, little is known about how these dynamics unfold in the Irish context, where neurodiversity is not explicitly recognised in employment law.

A qualitative design was employed, using semi-structured interviews with ten professionals across Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. An inductive thematic analysis identified five conceptual domains: Identity and self-presentation, workplace dynamics and inclusion, career and development, well-being  and coping, and generational context. Together, these domains informed a conceptual framework that depicts workplace inclusion not as a fixed outcome but as a cyclical, non-linear process shaped by ongoing negotiation.

The findings show that disclosure was a situational strategy balancing authenticity and risk; managerial influence was decisive in shaping inclusion or exclusion; career success was reframed in terms of balance and meaningful contribution; well-being  was precariously sustained through coping strategies and support networks; and generational context shaped diagnostic pathways, identity formation, and expectations of inclusion.

The study contributes by advancing a framework of inclusion as dynamic and iterative, introducing generational identity as an interpretive lens, and providing one of the first qualitative accounts of neurodivergent professionals in Ireland. These insights carry implications for organisations, managers, and policymakers, underscoring the need for systemic neuroaffirmative practices that move beyond reliance on individual disclosure or managerial discretion.